An FO and feeling inspried...

I can't even remember the last post I made on here. It's been a long, long time. I feel like I've lost touch with things that I once loved to do. I feel consumed by work, family and day to day living and seem to have very little time for myself. I'm am struggling to find balance in my life and I'm feeling unhappy. It's high time I get back on track and I've started with an FO. It's been on going for I'd say at least 6 months. It's a sweater for Rowan (who is now 3 years old). The yarn is hand painted by Wandering Cat Yarns and the pattern I used is called Carnival Coat out of the Top Down For Toddlers book by Cabin Fever. Please excuse my lack of links, I'm feeling lazy...I had a long night at work. Baby steps! :)

Voila! I finished it up today and Rowan even helped me pick out buttons at the Fabric Centre downtown after her swimming lesson at the YMCA.

She wasn't the most co-operative model that I've ever had, but at least I could produce some kind of picture with it on her. It's a little big on her but she'll grow into it. Since I've taken all the time to make it, I'd rather her be able to wear it for as long as possible.

Now all that is said and done. I'm feeling inspired. Inspired enough to make myself something for a change. I've had my eye on this pattern that I found on Ravelry for a while now. It's called Owls. I don't know what it is about them but I love owls. They are so eerie and mysterious looking. As soon as I saw this pattern I knew that one day I had to make this for myself. I absolutely love it, getting excited here!!! I'm also impressed with myself, I even remembered my Ravlery user name and password as it has been equally as long as I have been on that site. It's done on chunky yarn, and I want to do it in the grey colour that it's pictured in. It just looks so awesome! YIPPEEE, I can't wait!!!

Next project is finding out what kind of yarn I would like to use and purchasing the pattern.

Off to bed for me now. The wheels are turning though, I'll be dreaming of all things owly and yarny.

The Search for the Perfect Slipper

The summer came just as fast as it went and the last little while I've been feeling that urge to pull out the needles once again. The search has been on for the perfect quick and easy slipper. I wanted something relativity simple (instant gratification this project is key), but not too plain and Grandma like. After searching high and low on Ravelry and just googling slipper patterns I finally found what I was looking for. Which is good because I was beginning to think that maybe I was just being too damn picky and was wasting more time on the internet then knitting(since knitting time can be scarce to non exsitant as is). I was about to give up until this little number came along. Summer Cable Slippers by KLC Creations . This seems exactally what I was looking for in a slipper pattern and it is going along swimmingly! I realize that the pattern is called "Summer" Cable Slippers because they are not an overly thick slipper but they are perfect and perhaps will just be memories of summer slippers as the days are getting chillier. The pattern is written for ladies sizes but I am hoping after the first pair that I make that I might be able to modify it for child sizes. I'm on a mission this fall, all the girls are getting slippers.
Stay tuned for updates!

Wandering Cat Yarns Contest

I know it's been too long, but I wanted to let everyone know that Wandering Cat Yarns are celebrating their 100th Sale, a HUGE milestone for them and to thank everyone for their awesomeness and support they are having a contest.

Rules:

To enter:
Go to Wandering Cat Yarns and look at all the pretty yarn - then come back here and leave a comment telling us what your favourite colourway is.

Extra entries:
To receive an extra entry...

POST about this contest on your own blog and email the link to wanderingcatstudio(at)hotmail(dot)com or let us know with your comment.

BUY stuff. Each item you buy (stitch markers and jewellery included) will give another entry.
(Items purchased today have already been entered in the contest!)

Deadline:
Contest runs from today to midnight, Friday, March 12. Draw will take place on Saturday, March 13 and the results will be posted on Rhonda's Blog.
Prize:
The winner will receive their choice of one (1) skein of either Alley Cat, Top Cat, Fluffy Cat, Slinky Cat Fingering, Stray Cat, Fat Cat or Fat Cat Kit, available from the shop at time of choosing, as well as a set of Wandering Cat Paw stitch markers.

Good Luck!

Do do do lookin' out my back door...

What a wild day of snow and it's supposed to continue into the night and into tomorrow.
Yup, that's what we've been seeing up here for the last week. Snow, snow and more snow!

So, what's being going on in my life these days...

I've been working quite a bit. I'm back at Shopper's again.

Paisley and Ron were in the Owen Sound Santa Claus Parade for Coca-Cola.

Paisley turned six on Tuesday December 8th. It's hard to believe that she's 6 already. Rowan's also 18 months now. In another 6 months she will be 2. Life's gotta slow down! Over the weekend, Gramma and Grampa came to see Paisley for her birthday (early birthday).

I'm still on a bit of a knitting hiatus, but the Bella mittens are calling me back. Infact this snowy weather is inspiring me to maybe pick up the needles.

On Tuesday the 15th is Paisley's Christmas Assembly at school. I'm excited about that. Her class is sing "Up on the House Top" and apparently she is a dancer. She requested that I get her a new Christmas dress for this, so I'm going to have to take a look for her.

The Christmas crunch is on. I guess I get to start my shopping tomorrow since it's payday, whoo hoo!! I'm excited, I love Christmas shopping, wrapping and all of that fun stuff.

I guess that's about it for now. I want to post Paisley's birthday pictures too, but they are on my other camera right now.

Well, I've recovered from the flu I had last week and so far (finger's crossed) nobody else in my family has even shown signs of symptoms yet. Pheewww!!
Onto some good news. I started working at Shoppers again here in Owen Sound. I already have BIG plans for my first paycheck. I was in fiber heaven today!! I took a very short walk across the river to my LYS Riverside Yarns here in Owen Sound (literally a 2 min walk from my work, this could be baaaad). I had always wanted to take a look in the store but just never got down there on my short visits home. They had quite a variety of yarns, but not near as much as Julie's store in Ancaster. Okay, on with the BIG plans here. LOL I will go back and treat myself to something yarnarifick at the store! What I really fell in love with though (and they don't sell it at the store) is Dream in Color Starry in Dusky Aurora. I'm thinking Ishbel in this colourway would be amazing. My other big plans for my paycheck (along with paying bills) is a bag of socks. I know, how fun eh? But I seem to be at an all time low of socks in my drawer right now. It's pretty bad and I need them for work.
Well, I'm off to bed now. I've worked everyday this week except Monday and I'm off this weekend (with mad amounts of laundry to take care of), hoooray!

November already?

We are settling into our new place in Owen Sound. It's taking some time but it is coming along. I can hardly believe it's already been a month since we've been here. It actually seems longer to me. It's been so rainy and miserable these days, I'm guessing that might have something to do with it. The knitting has been a slow go, although I did manage to get one of the monkey socks for Amanda done (I just need to graft the toe). I'm having a hard time finding my groove in the new place. I was down with the flu last week and didn't do much of anything, I was in bed for 3 full days with an on and off fever, headache, body ache and stupid cough. I'm feeling a little better now but I still have a cough, my chest hurts a little and I get tired easy, coming around though.

The girls had a good Halloween even though it was a chilly one Paisley went out as my Rock & Roll Vampire and Rowan as my little parrot. Although she wasn't very impressed with Halloween at first, Rowan even went to at least a dozen houses with the help of Ron and I. Paisley and my nephew Lucas could have went out a little longer then the little one's, but we called it a relatively short night.
Paisley seems to be adjusting nicely to her new school. It's just a little weird for me because I went there when I was in public school. She even has my french teacher as her teacher this year, only for the morning though because she teaches french in the afternoon. She has a different teacher for the afternoon but my brother had her when he went there, so strange. Most of the teachers that taught there when I was young are gone now but there are still a few. Paisley even met a little friend in her class who conveniently lives in our building and on the same floor, so we've had a few play dates to compensate for the crappy weather we've been having.
The picture at the top is a view from my balcony and it was taken only 2 weeks ago. There are no leaves on that poor tree now.
I got a job at Shopper's Drugmart again, I go in tomorrow. It'll be nice having some extra money with Christmas coming just around the corner (yes, I said it.......Christmas).
That's about all that is new right now. I'll will try and get on here and post more often!!!

Adorable!

Just a quick post to share my neat find. I went to Michael's today with my crafty neighbour Amanda
because she was looking for Halloween ideas and outside they had all their 2010 calendars for $1.50. Any how, I couldn't resist the "Funny Farms" calendar, too cute!